Loading machine gathering chain



Aug. 17, 1937. F. CARTLIDGE' LOADING MACHINE GATHERING.CHAIN Original Filed Nov. 10, 1933 Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOADING MACHINE GATmING CHAIN Frank Carflidge, Chicago, 111., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 11]., a

corporation of Illinois Application November 10, 1933, Said 80. 697,415 Renewed December 21, 1938 llClaims.

portion of the device shown in Figure 1 with certain parts broken away and in section, showing several details of my invention not shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a enlarged fragmentary detail pl view of the device. illustrating certain details of one of the gathering arms and the manner in which it is connected to the chain.

In the drawing one embodiment of my inven- 25 tion is shown as being applied to a gathering head for loading machines. of a type suchas is shown in a prior appiication,"Serial No. 472,701, filed by me August 2, 1930., although it will be apparent that it may be applied to cutter chains for mining machines as well as to a gathering chain for loading machines. In the form shown. endless chains HI, I! are provided which are orbitally movable about guides H, H of an ordinary construction. Said guides are secured to opposite sides of an inclined apron i2 of agathering and loading element l4 and extend along and are spaced above opposite sides of an inclined conveyor 45 from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof for gathering g and moving material thereon. Theangle of inclination of the guides II, II is herein shown as being parallel to the angle of inclination of the apron l2 to a point adjacent the forward end thereof, from which point the angle of in- 45 clination of said guides is substantially parallel with the ground when said gathering and loading element is in engagement with the ground, to enable the gathering mechanism to move along and gather material from the ground.

The chain I0 is made up of a series of chain blocks (1, I1 pivotally connected together by a series of straps l2, II. This chain rides in a groove formed in the guide II and is drlvenby a sprocket in the usual manner. Said groove is 55 provided at its top and bottom surfaces with Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the forward suitable guideways IS, IS (see figure 2) in which restraining lips 2| on the straps II are retained.

The gathering chain II is provided with suitable gathering means pivptally connected there- Y to at spaced intervals therealong which are herein shown as, being laterally projecting gathering arms 2!, 2| pivotally connected between parallel-spaced lugs Ila, Ila. projecting from certain straps ll, 12. for pivotal movement with respect thereto about axes perpendicular to the plane of movement of said gathering chain and spaced forwardly of the longest axis of each of said arms. The gathering arms 2|; 2| are so a spaced as to prevent interference between each other and each gathering arm has a gathering face inclined rearwardly from the lower forward sidethereofasisbestshowninl 'lgure3. Each of. said arms also has a cutter bit 22 projecting laterally from its outer end and a'projection 22 disposed intermediate its ends'which extends angularly outwardly and upwardly therefrom. Said projection is adapted to carry a cutter bit 24 which is adapted to cut clearance for the arm and snub unsevered or tightly wedged coal. Pivotal movement of each gathering arm 2| with respect to the straps II is limited by supporting legs 25 and 26 extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom from a point disposed adjacent the pivotal ans thereofr which are adapted to engage said chain. The gathering arms 2| besides gathering and moving material onto the inclined conveyor I! may also cut and loosen solidly wedged material or may cut a snubbing 'kerfin the coal faceifdeslred. v .7

r with reference now in particular .tothe details of construction of the chain I! each chain block I1 is made from a palrof members 21, 21. Each member 21 has a slightly concave or bowl shaped socket 20 formed adjacent its opposite ends and extending therethrough so that the diameter of the opening on one side of said member is greater than the diameter of the opening on the opposite side of said member. The sockets 28, 28 may be formed in any suitable manner, such as boring or drop forging.v

Bearing members 29, 28 are provided and are adapted to fit in the sockets 28, 28 formed in the members 21. Each bearing member 29 is formed with a continuous convex face having flattened ends and is bored along a line coaxial with the longest axis of said member to receive a connecting member or rivet 30 adapted to extend equidistantly beyond the ends thereof. The bearing members 29 are adapted to be inserted in the concave sockets 28, 28 of one of the members 21. The other member 21 is then fitted over the bearing members 29 so the two members and the .widest, openings of said sockets abut each other,

5 thus forming ball and socket connections between the straps I8, l8 and the-chain block ll.

The members 21, 21 may be secured together in any suitable manner, but are herein preferably shown as being welded together. The members 10 21, 21 being secured together to form the block II, the straps i8, it may be secured to the outer ends of the rivets 30, 30 in a usual manner so that their inner surfaces abut the ends of'the bearing members 29, 28. 7 While I have herein shown and described one form in which the device of my invention may be embodied, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the precise details or form of construction shown herein, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as mvinvention: 1. An endless chain gathering device including a series of interconnected links, aplurality of spaced apart laterally projecting gathering arms. each of said arms being pivotally connected to certain of said links for limited pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of travel of said chain, each of said gathering arms having "a cutter bit projecting therefrom and having forwardly and rearwardly extending legs adapted to engage said chain and limit pivotal movement of said arms beyond a certain predetermined point in. either a forward or rearward direction. 2. An endless chain gathering device including a series of interconnected links, a plurality of spaced apart laterally projecting gathering arms, each of said arms being pivotally connected to certain links of said chain for limited pivotal o movementabout an axis disposed perpendicular to the plane of travel of said chain. each of said gathering arms having a leg projecting forwardly therefrom from a point disposed adjacent its axis of pivotal connection to said chain and 5 another-leg projectingrearwardly therefrom from a point disposed adjacent its axis of pivotal connection to said chain, said legs being adapted to engage said chain and limit pivotal movement of said arms in either a forward or rearward di- 5 rection beyond a certain predetermined point.

3. In an endless chain gathering device, a series of interconnected links, spaced apart laterally projecting gathering arms pivotally connected between pairs of parallel spaced lugs pro- I jecting from certain of said links, each of said arms being pivotally movable about an axis disposed perpendicular to the plane of travel'of said chainand spaced forwardly of the longest central axis of said arm, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said arms about said axes comprising a leg extending forwardly from each of said arms from a point disposed adjacent its pivotal axis and adapted to engage said chain forwardly of said arm, and another leg extending rearwardly from each of said arms from a point disposed adjacent its pivotal axis and adapted to engage said chain-rearwardly of said arm.

4. In an endless chain gathering device, a se- 76 ries of interconnected links, a plurality of spaced apart laterally projecting gathering arms, each of said arms being pivotally connected between pairs of parallel spaced lugs projecting from certain of said links for pivotal movement about an 75 axis disposed perpendicular to the p ane 1 travel of said chain and spaced forwardly of the longest central axis of said arm, means for limiting pivotal movement of said arms about said axes comprising a leg extending forwardly from each of said arms from a point disposed adjacent its pivotal axis and adapted to engage said chain forwardly of said arm, and another leg ex-' tending rearwardly from said arm from a point disposed adjacent its pivotal axis and adapted to engage said chain rearwardly of said arm, each of said gathering arms having a cutter bit pros jecting from the outer end thereof and another upwardly projecting bit disposed intermediate the ends thereof, and said 'rearwardly projecting legs holding said arms in position whereby rearwardly from the lower end thereod and having one cutter bit projecting laterally from the outer end thereof and another cutter bit projecting upwardly from a point disposed intermediate the ends of said arm, and means extending forwardly and rearwardly from each of said arms for limiting pivotal movement thereof and holding said arms in position whereby said bits may cutclearance for said arms and cut a snubbing kerf in a mine wall. 1

6. A gathering and cutting chain comprising a series of blocks connected together by a series of straps, gathering arms pivotally connected to certain of said straps at spaced intervals thereaiong for pivotal movement about an axis per- ,pendicular to the plane of travel of said chain,

each of said gathering arms having cutting means carried thereby and a pair of legs extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom for engagewith the next adjacent forward and rearward blocks for limiting pivotal movement of said arms beyond certain predetermined points.

, 7. A gathering and cutting chain comprising a series of blocks connected together by a series of straps, gathering arms pivotally connected to certain of said straps at spaced intervals therealong for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of travel of said chain and spaced forwardly of the longest central axis of said arms, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said arms about said axis comprising a leg extending forwardly from said pivotal axis and adapted to engage the next adjacent forward chain block and another leg extending rearwardly of said pivotal axis for engagement with the adjoining rearward chain block.

8. A gathering and cutting chain comprising a series of blocks connected together by a series of straps, gathering arms pivotally connected to certain of said straps at spaced intervals therealong for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of travel of said chain and spaced forwardly of the longest central axis of said arms, means for limiting pivotal movement of said arms about said pivotal axis comprising a leg extending forwardly from said pivotal axis-and adapted to engage the next adjacent chain block and another leg extending rearwardly of said pivotal axis for engagement with the adjoining rearward chain block, and means whereby said gathering arms may cut a snubblng kerf in the mine wall comprising a cutter bit extending from the outer end of each of said gathering arms and another cutter bit extending upwardly from each of said gathering arms.

9. Gathering and cutting mechanism comprising a series of links pivotally connected together for movement in a closed orbital path, a gathering and cutting arm extending outwardly from one ofsaid links and pivotally connected thereto for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of travel of said chain, said arm having a forward portion forming a material gathering surface and having a cutter bit extending outwardly and for'wardly from the forward end thereof and another cutter bit extending upwardly and forwardly from the upper side thereof. and means for limiting pivotal movement of said am with respect to its associated link comprising a leg extending forwardly there from for engagement with the next adjacent forward link and another leg extending rearwardly therefrom for engagement with the next adJacent rearward link.

10. Gathering and cutting mechanism comprising a series of links pivotally connected together for movement in a closed orbital path,- a gathering and cutting arm extending outwardly from one of said links and pivotally connected thereto for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of travel of said chain, means for limiting pivotal movement of said arm in a forward and rearward direction beyond a certain predetermined point comprising a leg extending forwardly from said arm and adapted to engage said next adjacent forward link and another leg extending rearwardly from said arm and adapted to engage said next adjacent rearward link, and means whereby said arm may cut a snubbing kerf in the mine wall comprising a cutter bit extending forwardly from the outer end thereof and another cutter bit extending upwardly and angularly forwardly and outwardly therefrom.

ll. Gathering and cutting mechanism comprising a series of links pivotally connected together for movement in a closed orbital path, a gathering and cutting arm extending outwardly from one of said links and pivotally connected thereto for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of travel of said chain and spaced forwardly of the longest central axis of said gathering arm, said arm having a forward portion forming a material gathering surface and having a cutter bit extending outwardly and forwardly from the forward end thereof and another cutter bit extending upwardly and forwardly from the upper side thereof, and means for limiting pivotal'movement of said arm beyond certain predetermined points comprising a leg extending forwardly from said pivotal axis and adapted to engage the next adjacent link and another leg extending rearwardly of said pivotal axis for engagement with the adjoining rearward link.

FRANK CAR'ILIDGE. 

